Perak to have environment-friendly mini-hydro plant

-The Star- IPOH: Perak is set to have its first ever environmental-friendly mini-hydro plant to generate electricity supply for the state.

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the RM10mil plant could generate up to 10 MWs of electricity and the project is expected to take off soon.

“It is capable of generating enough electricity to support a small town,” he said after witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between Perak Hydrorenewable Energy Corporation Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Wan Mohammad Khairil Anuar Wan Ahmad, China Science and Technology International Supply Corporation board chairman Liang Bing and Bumi International Energy Sdn Bhd executive director Dzahir Jamudin on the plant at his official residence yesterday.

“We will also be looking into the possibility of expanding the plant to generate up to 30 MWs in the future,” he added.

Dr Zambry stressed that the plant would not consist of building a dam that would flood nearby areas.

“It is a new green technology that will not affect the environment,” he said, adding that the construction of the plant could take about two years.

He said that electricity would be generated through technology that uses streaming water current, adding that it was in line with the state’s stance to support and adopt the National Green Technology Policy.

Dr Zambry said they have already identified about 10 sites outside of the Kinta Valley for the construction of the plant but it was not finalised.

“It will be built near hilly areas with rivers,” he said, adding that they were still studying the suitability of each sites.

He noted that a series of discussions have been made with Tenaga Nasional Berhad on the construction of the plant.

“Electricity supply generated from the plant will be sold to TNB,” he added.

On an unrelated matter, Dr Zambry said the double Barisan Nasional victories at the Batu Sapi and Galas by-elections were encouraging signs that the people were confident of the coalition’s leadership.